Irritations in the workplace that may make you more productive

Published 11:37 am, Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Photo: Flickr

Image 1of/16

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 16

Extra work with no motivation: Bosses can routinely dump more work on employees without compensating for the extra workload. However, according to Forbes, this could make you more creative and more productive.

The reason is creativity stems from wanting to create, and a new challenge allows an employee the opportunity to do something new.

Stupidity: The stupid colleague the next cubicle over is likely making you pull your hair out on a weekly basis, but they could be making the workplace run more efficiently.

A recent study found “functional stupidity,” or a person who doesn’t question decisions or the vision, can actually make the workplace more efficient or productive. Of course, the study also found those workers could end up costing the workplace down the line.

Office gossip: You probably don’t like the idea of someone talking or gossiping behind your back, but studies have shown that it can actually have a positive impact on a workplace.

The reason is people who gossip often develop a bond with other employees and reduce stress at the same time, according to research by Indiana University. The gossip can also be helpful in analyzing their own performance inside of the workplace, which can lead to more productivity.

Noisy distractions: Researchers believe these distractions force a person’s brain to think more abstractly, making ideas come more easily. This can explain why people can be more productive in a bar or a coffee shop setting. It goes against traditional thinking, but the research seems to back it up.

Noisy distractions: Researchers believe these distractions force a person’s brain to think more abstractly, making ideas come more easily. This can explain why people can be more productive in a bar or a

Reason why: “When you turn from one task to another, you interrupt brain functions. Plus, multitasking adds stress and boosts toxic hormones such as cortisol, which clouds thinking and can destroy brain cells.”

Minor workplace annoyances can make you frustrated all day, but they could also make you more productive.

Forbes spoke with Tom Gimbel, president and chief executive of Chicago-based staffing firm LaSalle Network, about how certain irritations can actually have a positive impact on an employee's job performance.

"Annoyances in the office occur at the same frequency as printer paper jams, reaching for empty coffee pots in the morning, and shortages in the office fridge," Gimbel told Forbes.

Here are just a few of the findings:

Office gossip: You probably don't like the idea of someone talking or gossiping behind your back, but studies have shown that it can actually have a positive impact on a workplace.

The reason is people who gossip often develop a bond with other employees and reduce stress at the same time, according to research by Indiana University. The gossip can also be helpful in analyzing their own performance inside of the workplace, which can lead to more productivity.

"The fact that people automatically think gossip is bad is a bad rap," Frank McAndrew, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., told Forbes in 2010. "Gossip is a social skill. Think of it less like there are people who gossip and people who don't. There are people who are good gossipers and people who aren't."

However, researchers believe these distractions force a person's brain to think more abstractly, making ideas come more easily. This can explain why people can be more productive in a bar or a coffee shop setting. It goes against traditional thinking, but the research seems to back it up.

Stupidity: The stupid colleague the next cubicle over is likely making you pull your hair out on a weekly basis, but they could be making the workplace run more efficiently.

A recent study found "functional stupidity," or a person who doesn't question decisions or the vision, can actually make the workplace more efficient or productive. Of course, the study also found those workers could end up costing the workplace down the line.

According to Forbes, Grimbel said the messy workspace helps workers streamline their thoughts and work, making it more efficient.

Of course, this goes against conventional wisdom about messy desks. Many companies encourage workers to have a clean, clutter-free environment.

Extra work with no motivation: Bosses can routinely dump more work on employees without compensating for the extra workload.

However, according to Forbes, this could make you more creative and more productive. The reason is creativity stems from wanting to create, and a new challenge allows an employee the opportunity to do something new.